This was one of thirty C-135Bs ordered for the USAF pending the arrival of the C-141 Starlifter as a true military airlifter. It first flew on 18 May 1962 and served for many years as a VIP or staff transport, before being converted to RC-135W Rivet Joint standard in November 2006.

A C-135B at Rota in the 1960s. First flown on 21 June 1962, this aircraft was converted to an RC-135M in 1967 and was still active as an RC-135W in 2022, 60 years old. The Neptune, BuNo 148352, was delivered to VP-56 at Norfolk, tail code LQ, in 1961. A-3 Skywarriors are also seen. The station hack C-45 in the foreground is BuNo 67213, about which little information is available. Photo from: Naval History and Heritage Command

Operated by 89 MAW. Visit in connection with Bush-Gorbachev Malta Summit of December 1989.

K25 slide scan. SAM 89 MAW Andrews AFB. Delivered 1963 as C-135B, converted to VC-135B, reverted to C-135B. Converted to TC-135S 2004 and RC-135W 2006. Still current 2020.

Shortly before touch down on Rwy 07R.

Seen here as a C-135B was later modified and still flying as a RC-135W

61-2671 at Heritage Air Park.

A new C-135B cargo/pax for the USAF's Military Air Transport Service taking off from Edwards AFB during its test programme. Later modified to EC-135B and currently operating as the one-off NC-135W test airframe. From Boeing 50 years ago.